Train-control system.



I. AMES.

"mm connor. SYSTEM." v

LPFLIUATT'V' FILED HOV. 2, 1911.

NIS

mmm Feb. 18, mx.

l SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. AMES.

TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2,1911.

1,053,693. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gm u

. To all Iwhom t may concern:

UNITED.. STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOEL AMES, OF MONTROSE, IOWA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO LINCOLN C. MILLER,

OF KEOKUK, IOWA, ONE-SIXTH TO EDWARD LEECH, OF MONTROSE, IOWA, AND

`ONE-smart To THOMAS s. ROBINSON,

F FARMINGTON, IOWA.

TRAIN-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb- 18, 1913.

Application led November 2, 1911. Serial No. 658,226.

-Be it lm own that I, .Joel` AMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montrose, Iowa, have invented a rtain new and useful Train-Control System, of which thefollowing is such i'ull, clear, and exact description as will enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertalns to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formlng part of this specification.

This invention relates to a system of train control, its object being to .provide apparatus of this character which will be simple in construction y and etiicient in operation.

' The invention comprises means for establishing communication with a moving train by either telephone,l telegraph, or a system of signals, and means whereby a train is automatically .warned of the approach of another train to within less than a prede-l terniined distance and 'may even be automatically stopped when4 such a condition arises. By my System, both rear end and head on collisions are prevented.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

yIn theA accompanying drawings illustratingone embodiment of my invention', Figure l is a diagrammatic View of the connections and parts ofthe system with the exception of the apparatus carried lby the train; Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing the circuit conditions when two trains are within the same block Fig. 3

- is a diagrammatic view of the portion ot the train controlling system which is carried by the train itself, and which is not shown in the other figures. v

Like marks of reference indicate' like parts in the drawings.

1 is a railroad track, and T represents a train thereon. electrically independent sections insulated from each other at pointsmarked, These sections can he of any desired length less than the length of the electrically equipped portion of a train. l t l 8 and 4 represent car trucks whlch are electrically connected and which may be any trucks of thev train, the only requlrementbe- The trackl is divided intoing that the trucks be so chosen that the clistance between them be greater than the length of one track section and' less than two track sections. It will be understood, oi"l course, that means other than the wheels and axles of thetrain may be used to establish electrical connection between the. rails and the train, and also that instead of connecting the train controlling circuits with'the` rails, a series of contact members may be arranged adjacent the track, in which case the track need not be used as a part of the system.

5, Gand 7 are main conductor wires suitably carried adjacent to the track and connected to each other at a common point, 9.

10 to 19 designate `circuit controllers or 70 relays, through the coils'and armatures of which connections are made between various track sect-ions and the main conductor wires.

8 is a telephone wire connected with station telephones 28-and 29, and it desired, 75 with the train despatchers otlice. The telephone circuit is connected by means of transformer 2Q withv the circuits that may be established through the main conductor wires, which circuits I will designate as main train controlling circuits. Included in the connection between the trucks 3 and 4 is a source of current 21 and the coil of the relay 22. In shunt. around the battery 21 is a circuit which includes a telephone 23 85 or other signaling apparatus. The train is also providedwith a local circuit which includes the battery, or other source of energy 24, the armature of the relay 22, a solenold 25, and a b'rake controlling member 26. In 90 shunt with a coil of 25, an electric bell 27 or other warning device may be provided.

Fig. 1 represents the portion of the system situated between two stations, which may b'e any distance apart. The portion of 95 the system between any other two stations is the same, and the drawing illustrates the necessary connections lbetween any two portions. It will be observed that, in the arrangement shown, only one of the main con- 10o ductor wires (6 in the drawing) of one portion is connected to the conductor wires of the preceding portion.

. The operation of the system is as follows: Referring first Vto Figs. 1 'and .3, it will be 105 observed that whenthe train is in the positien 'shown in Fig.' l, a closed circuit is estab' lished which may be traced from track section 39 through' truck 3, relay 22, battery Q1.

truck Il, track section lfthrelay 1,1, i'elay 12. main conductor wire 7,'rna1n conductor wire 5, relay 1G. relay l5. and back to track section 39. The currentflowing'through this 'circuit causes'the armaturesot the relays ll.

12.115 and 1li to be actuated and thereby7 breaks the circuits cf which these armatures [includes track section 49. situated ahead. ot

the train. "hen the train moy-'es forward to a pcint where truck -3 is in Contact with track section 40, the/circuit described above is openedy and the armature oiE .relay l5 as sumes its nornial'position, thus permitting.

a fcllowinej train to establisha complete circuit which includes thetrack section 33.

ll'lien the ti'uck 4 reaches track section 4Q,

circuit is established which causes relay .1S to openI the circuit of which its armature is .a part. v Tt will thus be'seen' that as the train progresses it causes train cont-rolling circuits whose track'sections are a predetermined distance-ahead of it@ to be opened, and vthose whose track sections are a predetermined distance in the rear, to be closed,thus main? taining a protected zone o-r block whose Aposition changes with the movement of the train. 'hen referring to the train' controlling circui'ts ,being closed by the armatures of vthe relays, Iinean, of course, that the circuit is completed except. as to that 'portion which is cai'ried by the train. There are no fully complete train controlling circuits vexcept thcse established through the apparatus carried by the train itself.

F Qshowsa second train T represented as approaching train T. Train T, when in the position shown, causes the armature of -relay .1"2v to open the circuit which includes the track section 9, and consequently, when truck l comes into Contact with track sjection 49. nov circuit is established through relay QQ'carried by train (see Fig.y and the armature of this relay is allowed to resume its normal position aiidclose the local circuit which will operate the signal yand also actuate the. air brake controlling'ineinbei' 2G to set tlierbrakes and either stop the train or slacken its speed. according' to the adjustments previouslyv made. -When train T has adyanced to a point where track section l0 is not in contacty with either truck 3 or truck si. the armature of the relay l2 will resume its normal position and a circuit then establishcdthrough train T. which n ill operate to Vopen` the circuit "containing the armature of relay 18, and consequently pie yeiit the establishment of a circuit through -tipn shown. By assuming that 'train any selected position. and then tracing the train T when truck 3 reaches the track section 3.0. This condition will cause the train T to be stopped through the 'operation of its local controlling circuit in the same-manner that train T was stopped. Should train T adyance to section 4S, for example, before stopping".l it 'would have control of the circuit including the armature vor relay i9, and stop strain T when its truck reached the track section 4Q. lt will thus be apparent that first cne train and then the other has control of the system. and both trains will be automatically stcpped before colliding. lt will alsc be clear. from the foregoing description. that a train overtaking train T willv be stopped when it i'eaclies track secticii supposing' ti'aiii T to be inthe pesi- T is in.

circuits, it will be -found that my `system will operate` to stop ii train which apprcaches to within less than' a predetermined distance from it. and will stop both trains it they arev moving' toward each otliei'. A block or protected Zone may be made to extend lover any Idesired space.

Y each other..

Referring to Figs; '1 and and assuming that the ytrainis in the position slniwn in Fig.` 1. the telephone circuits may be traced as ollonsz-roni ltelephone through conductor S, one winding of transformer 20.; telephone 29, thence to the ground and back to telephone QS. The telepl'icnel oli-,the train is in a closed circuit 'which includes the track sections 39 and (l0, conductors T and. and theotherv coil of the transformer QQ. lt will be apparent,l therefore. Vthat by means of the transformer, current inn-mises corro sponding `to those in one telephone circuit will be set up in the other circuit` and since a closed circuit including the train telepho is constantly i'iiaii'itained as the tr yances', coii'ininnica tion by telephone het we j the train and the stations can he, estatal.

u'l'ieney er d esi red.`

nately connecting successive and'altei-.iatc

be in a de circuit terminals, n'eaus in each train controlling circuitl for causing` an opening to in a train controlling circuit' having a terminal locatedat a point ahead ot the train, and also incans in each train con` trolling circuit for be made in a train controlling ciicuit having a terniinal located at the rear ot the train.

2. In combination, circuit controlling devices, a tack rail divided into insulated sections, each section being connected to the succeeding track section through a circuit controlling ldevice, and each track section being also connected through a circuit controlling device tothe second track section in advance.

8. In apparatus lof the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices, ot 'switches operated4 thereby, a series of insulated contact members, each contact member being connected to the succeeding contact members through a cir- .cuit cont-rolling device and a switch,A and means carried by,a train for establishing electrical connection between adjacent contact members. 4

4., In apparatus of the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices ot switches operated thereby, a track rail comprising insulated scctions, each section being connected to the succeeding section through two circuit controlling devices and two switches.

5. The 'combination with circuit controlyling devices, of switches operated thereby, a track rail comprising insulated sections, each section being connected to the succeeding section through two circuit controlling `devices and two switches, each circuit controlling device beingadapted to operate a switch in circuit. with a track'section remote from the track section to which said device Iis connected.

6. The combination with electro-magnets. of' switches operated thereby, a track rail comprising insulated sections, each section being connected to the succeeijling section through two electro.- magnets and ytwo switches.

7,. In a train control system, switches,

4circuit controllingr devices, each adapted to operate a switch, a track rail divided into' insulated sections, each track section being connected to anc-ther track section through' a switch and two circuit controlling devices, the switch operated by one of the said cn'- cnit controlling devices being 1n circuit with lausing an opening tol a track section remote from and in advance ot' the sections to which said devices are connected and th:` switch .operated by the` -sulated sections, each track section being connected to another track section through two relays and the armature otl a third relay, the armature ot the first ot said relays ,being in circuit with a track section remote from and in advance of the sections to which said relay is connected, and the armature ot' the second relay being in circuit with a track section remote from and to the rear of the sections to which said relay is connected, and means carried by a train for alternately coi'niect-iiig successi'e and,alternate track sections as the -traii advances.

9. A train control system comprising" insulated track sections, three main conductors carried adjacent to the tralt and united at a common point, each cond'eor being connected to one or more track sections, circuit controlling relays, each in circuit with a track section and' having an armature in circuit with another track section.

10. A train control system, comprising insulated track sections. three main conductors carried adjacentl to the track and united at a common point, each conductor being connected to one or more track sections, ciircuit controlling' i'elavs,'each in circuit with a track section and having an armature in circuit with another tiaek section. and means arried by a train for energizing said relays. l

11. In' a train control systennthe combination with circuit controlling devices, of switches operated thereby, a track rail comprising insulated sections. each section being in electrical connection with the suc (feeding section through two circuit controlling'devices and two switches. and means arricd by'a train torconnecting adjacent track sections to form a complete circuit.

1Q. In a| train control system, the combination with circuity controlling devices, of switches operated thereby, a track rail comprising insulated sections. each section being in electrical connection with the suc,- cceding` section through a circuit controlling device and a switch, a partial circuit cairied by a train for connecting adjacent track sections, a source ot energy and an electro-magnet in said partial circuit, and a local circuitalso carried by the train and controlled by said electro-magnet.

13. In a train control system, the combination with circuit controlling devices, of

iso'

4switches operated thereby, a track rail `commeans carried by a train for connecting said 1o ',prising insulated sections,'each section being 44terminal-s to successively close said-circuits in electrical connection with the succeeding 'and av circuit for communicating with the sectionthrough' a circuitI control-ling device train from stat-ione, saiol circuit being in 5', and a switch, a Jartial circuit carried by a transformerrelation with each of saidtra-in' traiirfor vconnecting adjacenttrack sections, controlling circuits. 4

' a source of energy and an electro-magnet in In. c stiniony whereof,` I- have hereunto set said partial circuit, a local circuit also carmy bandi-and aixecl my seal in ythe presence ried-by the train and controlled'by said elec- 'of the tivo subscribingwitnesses.

10 tro-lnavnet and a train brake controllin" device .lin said'local circuit. g JOEL'AMES- [L- 5]- 14. A train control system comp-rising a vl/Vitnesses: plurality of train controlling circuits havf R. E. VORSTER, ing 'uerminals arranged along the. crack7k J. B. WORDEN. 

